Speech #930168693

Then. on May 16. 1973. nondepartmental witnesses were heard by the subcommittee in support of migration and refugee assistance. Rev. John W. Schauer and other vice chairmen of the Committee on Migration and Refugee Affairs of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies. representing 26 voluntary agencies. testified in support of the then $8.800.000 budget request asThe minimum amount . .. to insure programs not only of an ongoing nature but to meet new problems as they may emanate from East Europe. Africa. Asia. Near and Far East and Latin America . . . (Pages 544 and 548 of the transcript of the Hearing.) And at page 548. Reverend Schauer stated: It is recommended that the Appropriations Committee . . . consider an increase in the above figures. if possible. to meet new contingencies. The chairman of the subcommittee. the junior Senator from Hawaii. while indicating that cuts would be made in the foreign assistance program. at page 551 of the transcript of the hearing. reassured the representatives of the voluntary agencies that this would not. and I repeat not. happen to activities involving migration and refugee assistance. stating: We have no intention to cut back activities such as yours. we hope to increase them. I just wanted to say this in case you see headlines that the committee Is making 30percent cuts. it is not aimed at you. Then. after the Department had submitted its request for a budget of $9.504.000 for migration and refugee assistance for fiscal year 1974. and on December 13. 1973. the Appropriations Committee recommended this appropriation be cut to $8.566.000. stating. at page 108 of its report. Report No. 93620: It is the intention of the Committee in making this reduction that no new programs or activities be undertaken in fiscal year 1974 that were not carried on in fiscal year 1973. We fail to provide for the devaluation of the dollar so that our present level of assistance be maintained and then we go further and invite catastrophe upon all new kinds of migrants and refugees who need assistance. We refuse to recognize that on October 25. 1973. the Attorney General under his parole authority. authorized the pa.role into the United States of the approximately 20.000 Cuban refugees now in Spain over the period of the next 2 years. This is a new programare we now to drop these people in the midst of their revived hopes? I have just received a batch of clippings from the Hong Kong Standard and the South China Morning Post.